Dianthus plant named ‘KLEDP18255’

ABSTRACT

A new Dianthus plant particularly distinguished by large, double white flowers, and an upright habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDP18255’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

A Canadian Plant Breeders Rights Application for this variety was filed on Apr. 27, 2018, Application No. 18-9429. ‘KLEDP18255’ has not been sold or made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dianthus, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDP18255’. ‘KLEDP18255’ originated from a cross pollination of the proprietary female parent ‘DCP-2006-0024’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male parent ‘DCP-2009-0069’ (unpatented) in June 2013, in Stuttgart, Germany.

In July 2014, a single plant was selected. In September 2014, ‘KLEDP18255’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart Germany. ‘KLEDP18255’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation in Latina, Italy via vegetative stem cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Large, double white flowers; and     -   2. An upright habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dianthus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of a plant approximately 9 weeks old and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, including the flowers and foliage and buds and was taken in April 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDP18255’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected in April 2018 on 6-month old plants grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Caryophyllaceae.         -   Botanical.—Dianthus caryophyllus.         -   Common.—Pot carnation.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDP18255’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety             ‘DCP-2006-0024’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Dianthus variety             ‘DCP-2009-0069’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright.         -   Plant height.—14.0 cm to 16.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—18.0 cm to 20.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings, stem cutting.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—10 to 14 days.         -   Root description.—White, fine.         -   Rooting habit (shape).—Lanceolate. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Number of lateral branches.—7.         -   Strength.—Normal.         -   Length.—12.0 cm to 14.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—4.0 mm to 6.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.         -   Number of internodes per branch/stem.—4 to 6.         -   Node length.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Node diameter.—0.3 cm to 0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 139A.         -   Branch/stem appearance.—Solid. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—4.0 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Immature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface:             RHS 137B.         -   Mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface:             RHS 137A.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS             137A. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Double flower, small sprays.         -   Fragrance.—Present, typical of a carnation.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to fall.         -   Position of flowers relative to the foliage.—Moderately             above.         -   Number of flowers per spray.—3 to 4.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—10 to 12 days.         -   Buds.—Length: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.             Shape: Elliptic. Color: Apical part is RHS N137B and basal             part is RHS 144C. Extrusion of the styles at the bud stage:             Absent.         -   Corolla.—Quantity of petals and arrangement: 20 to 25 in             whorls. Corolla height: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Corolla diameter:             3.0 cm. Petal length: 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm. Petal width: 1.6 cm             to 2.0 cm. Petal shape: Spoon-shaped. Petal apex: Obtuse.             Petal base: Acute. Petal margin: Crenate. Depth of petal             margin: Medium. Petal texture (both upper and lower             surfaces): Smooth. Petal luster: Upper surface: Dull. Lower             surface: Light and shiny. Petal color: Immature: Upper             surface: RHS NN155B; in summer, a light pink eye colored RHS             58C. Lower surface: RHS NN155B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS             NN155B; in summer, a light pink eye colored RHS 58C. Lower             surface: RHS NN155B.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals and arrangement: Composed of 5             sepals, fused. Shape: Campanulate. Calyx height: 1.5 cm to             2.0 cm. Calyx diameter (at the apex): 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm.             Sepal texture (both upper and lower surfaces): Smooth. Sepal             color: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower surface: RHS 137D.             Sepal length: 2.0 cm. Sepal diameter: 1.0 cm. Sepal apex:             Acute. Sepal base: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             luster (both surfaces): Dull. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—13.0 cm to 14.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm to 0.3 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS N137B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: 4 to 7. Filament length: 0.7             cm to 1.0 cm. Filament color: RHS 157C. Anther length:             0.1 cm. Anther diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 160B.             Pollen amount: Sparse.         -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1. Pistil length: 1.5 cm to             2.0 cm. Style length: 1.0 cm to 1.3 cm. Style color: RHS             155C. Stigma shape: Filamentous. Stigma color: RHS 155C.             Ovary size: 0.8 cm to 1.0 cm. Ovary shape: Oval. Ovary             color: Basal part is RHS 145C and the apical part is RHS             144C. -   Fruit and seed set: Seed is sometimes observed, but no information     on the seed is available. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No disease and pest/insect     resistance observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDP18255’ is distinguished from its female parent as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent ‘DCP- ‘DCP- Characteristic ‘KLEDP18255’ 2006-0024’ 2009-0069’ Number of petals Strong filling, big Fewer petals Fewer petals flowers; more petals than than than ‘DCP-2006- ‘KLEDP18255’ ‘KLEDP18255’ 0024’ and ‘DCP- 2009-0069’

‘KLEDP18255’ can be compared to the commercial Dianthus variety ‘KLEDP08098’ (European Community Plant Variety Protection Application No. 2009/1174). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDP18255’ ‘KLEDP08098’ Flower size Large flower, Smaller flower than strong filling ‘KLEDP18255’ and less filling 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dianthus plant designated ‘KLEDP18255’ as illustrated and described herein. 